COVID-19 Basics

COVID-19, an illness caused by SARS-CoV-2, can spread easily from person to person. Current federal guidelines recommend that you wash your hands often, avoid close contact, cover your nose and mouth with a mask when indoors or around large groups of people, and get a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to you.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, get tested and be sure to call your health care provider for medical advice.

Did You Know...

illustration of three masked people

COVID-19 variants like Delta, Gamma, and Lambda develop when SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus, spreads from person to person and makes copies of itself.
 

illustration of a person having their nose swabbed for a COVID-19 test

COVID-19 tests and vaccines are free to anyone who needs them through a federal program.


 

illustration of a medical professional examining a young child sitting on his mother's lap

Anyone, including children, can spread SARS-CoV-2, even when they have only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all — and especially if they have not received a COVID-19 vaccine.

Resources

You can make a big impact in the fight against COVID-19 by sharing factual and trustworthy information in your community and networks. Copy the links or download the resources below to help spread accurate information.
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Website

How COVID-19 Affects Pregnancy

  • Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Updated:
Video

Juntos sí podemos con Tenoch Huerta y Dr. Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable

  • Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
  • File Info: (43:11:00)
Updated:
Hoja informativa

Seis preguntas (y respuestas) sobre las variantes de COVID-19

  • Source: NIH Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL)
  • File Info: PDF (210KB)
Updated:
Informes y Guias

Adaptar la información basada en hechos a las necesidades de las comunidades

  • Source: NIH CEAL Communication Work Group
  • File Info: PDF (5.85MB)
Updated:
Report/Guide

Adapting Fact-Based Information to the Needs of Communities: A Guide

  • Source: NIH CEAL Communication Work Group
  • File Info: PDF (696KB)
Updated:
Also available in Spanish
Informes y Guias

Adaptar la información basada en hechos a las necesidades de las comunidades

  • Source: NIH CEAL Communication Work Group
  • File Info: PDF (5.85MB)
Updated:
Hoja informativa

Cómo lidiar con información errónea acerca de COVID-19

  • Source: NIH CEAL Communication Work Group
  • File Info: (906KB)
Updated:

Social Media Messages

Copy and use these social media messages to encourage the spread of accurate information about COVID-19.

COVID-19 clinical trials will help us find safe and effective ways to treat and prevent COVID-19. Share information about safety protections and providing informed consent with your community: https://go.usa.gov/xfShb

Can immune supplements help protect against #COVID19? Will a future vaccine be safe? How can the medical community build trust with African Americans? @TiffanyHaddish has questions. Watch her discussion with Dr. Anthony Fauci: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FZXfgT_IRg&feature=youtu.be 

Social Media Images

To download an image and save the file to your computer, click on the link for the social media platform you’d like to use.

External links provide additional information that is consistent with the intended purpose of this site. NIH cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal site. Linking to a non-federal site does not constitute an endorsement by NIH or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site. We proudly comply with 508 accessibility regulations, but we cannot be responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private websites that we link to. Read more about NIH Web policies.